EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN PROGRESS. 
Electrical 
Sterilization 
of Cream 
and Milk. 
Weights 
and 
Measures. 
Power 
Alcohol. 
Mangrove 
Tanning. 
Road 
Materials. 
Kelp. 
A direct current is to be applied to ripened cream, and 
milk is to be sterilized in thin sheets by actinic rays. 
The work is being done at the Randwick Tramway 
Workshop. 
A Committee is inquiring into the whole question of 
the Acts and regulations in force in the several States 
relating to weights and measures, with a view to bring- 
ing about some degree of uniformity, which is essential 
for proper development in the local mianufacture of cer- 
tain weighing and measuring machines. 
Experiments are being carried out at Melbourne 
University Engineering School to test the efficiency of 
alcohol as a fuel in different types of internal combustion 
engines. 
Investigations have been carried out at Brisbane, 
and a successful method of overcoming the decolouriza- 
tion problem has been devised. The Committee is pre- 
paring specimens of mangrove tanned leather, and is 
completing the preparation of its report. 
A Special Committee has prepared an outline of a 
scheme for the organization of a Commonwealth 
laboratory to carry out experimental research on road 
materials and on standardization of methods. 
The question of the commercial utilization of kelp 
is being investigated at Hobart. The main products 
obtainable are potash and iodine, but a new product 
has been obtained, which can be turned in a lathe and 
polished, and is suitable for making insulators, buttons, 
and various other articles. The Committee is engaged 
in preparing its final report on the work. 
Native Grasses An Inter-State Committee is at work with head- 
- and Fodder 
Plants. 
Fuel Economy. 
Bureau of 
Information. 
Improved 
Tanning 
Processes. 
C.5658 —3 
quarters at Sydney on the collection, propagation, 
improvement, and cultivation of the most promising 
indigenous grasses and fodder plants of Australia. 
A Committee has been appointed to make recom- 
mendations as to what steps should be taken to promote 
a more economical utilization of fuel, especially of 
black coal, in Australia. 
The nucleus of a scientific and technical library has 
been established, and every week a considerable num- 
ber of. requests for information is being received and 
dealt with. 
Systematic experimental work is being carried out 
by the Institute at Sydney with a view to the deter- 
mination of a standard and _ scientific method of 
tanning under practical conditions. 
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